Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to explain the circumstances surrounding an alleged $460,000 forfeiture in the United States rather than focus on attacking a US-based lobbyist.
Atiku made the call in a statement issued by his media team on Wednesday amid an ongoing exchange between Tinubu’s camp and the American lobbyist, Karl Von Batten-Montague-York.
Von Batten, who heads the US lobbying firm Batten-Montague-York, has recently become the subject of criticism from officials and supporters of the President following reports concerning his lobbying activities.
Reacting to the development, Atiku argued that questioning the lobbyist’s credibility or personal life would not resolve the issues raised over the alleged forfeiture.
He described the attention being given to Von Batten as an attempt to divert public discussion from the financial questions surrounding Tinubu.
Atiku said the focus should remain on documentary records rather than personal attacks.
“And this obsession with Karl Von Batten is an obvious diversion. Abuse the man. Mock his name. Research his wife. Count his clients. Inspect his socks. When Dare and his colleagues are finished, the $460,000 forfeiture record will still be there.
“That is the problem with documents: they do not respond to insults.
“We will stick to the records,” he stated.
The former Vice President also challenged the administration to explain what he described as its own financial dealings before questioning his reported $1.2m engagement with Von Batten.
“Before counting Atiku’s $1.2 million, account for your own $9 million arrangement.
“And before abusing the messenger, answer the $460,000 question. The rest is noise,” Atiku added.
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The controversy follows reports of a war of words between Tinubu’s representatives and Von Batten, with both sides trading claims over the lobbyist’s activities and dealings.
Atiku maintained that the central issue should be the facts contained in official records and called on the administration to respond to the allegations rather than engage in personal attacks.
